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Toyota GT86 (and Subaru BRZ) facing axe, suggests report

A fresh report out of the United States suggests the Toyota GT86 and closely related Subaru BRZ (which both hit the scene back in 2012) will not see a second generation.

According to Japanese Nostalgic Car, which cites an upcoming report from a Japanese magazine, the two sportscars are facing the axe.

Why? Well, the publication says the two automakers have “deviated on their development policies”.

As Japanese Nostalgic Car points out, however, the base four-cylinder version of the new A90-generation Supra makes 145 kW, which is in fact two units fewer than the GT86’s naturally aspirated flat-four engine, leading to speculation this derivative will serve as the brand’s entry-level sportscar.

Another scenario is that Toyota could again be partnering with Subaru after the latter reportedly started work on a new mid-engined vehicle. This, the report speculates, could form the basis of a revived MR2.

Meanwhile, Toyota boss Akio Toyoda hinted to Autocar a fresh sportscar could be on the way from the brand.

“SUVs are nice but, at the end of the day, is there anything better than a tight rear-wheel-drive sportscar? I hope this won’t be the last Toyota sportscar you see from us in the future,” Toyoda said, in reference to the new Supra.

The Toyota GT86 line-up in South Africa currently comprises just a single derivative, priced at R593 100. The BRZ, meanwhile, was pulled from the local market back in September 2015.

Ryan has spent most of his career in online media, writing about everything from sport to politics and other forms of crime. But his true passion – reignited by a 1971 Austin Mini Mk3 still tucked lifeless in a dark corner of his garage – is of the automotive variety.